Public funding for radio ads like Sheriff David Clarke's would be banned under proposal

Supervisor Patricia Jursik wants Milwaukee County ethics code revised

Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr.'s controversial radio ads urging citizens to arm themselves have prompted an effort to muzzle such taxpayer-funded announcements.

The proposal by Supervisor Patricia Jursik would make ads like Clarke's gun "personal safety announcements" violations of the county ethics code and subject to fines.

"I think there's an abuse going on," Jursik said. "I think it's a bad ethical practice." Her proposal to put a stop to publicly funded ads by any elected officials got an airing this month by a County Board committee, but no action was taken.

The danger in allowing such ads is that they may be used to boost an official's chances in the next election or to mislead the public, said Jursik, who has tangled with Clarke in the past.

If Clarke wants to run ads with his own voice or image, he should pay for them from his campaign account, Jursik said.

Her measure is slated for another hearing in June, and Jursik said she'll invite Clarke and other elected officials to the session to weigh in on the topic.

Clarke spent at least $6,175 on radio ads on the gun topic over the past three months, including his push for citizens to learn how to defend themselves with a firearm and to mistrust calling 911 for help, according to a tally provided by the Sheriff's Department.

They accounted for two-thirds of his nearly $11,000 in local radio advertising bills paid for the period, the tally shows. Nearly all the money for the gun-themed ads — Clarke prefers to label them personal safety messages or public service announcements — was spent for air time on WISN-AM (1130).

Other radio ads by Clarke were warnings about drunken driving or sending text messages while behind the wheel.

The tally provided by Clarke's office didn't include sums spent on WTMJ-AM (620), though more than $6,400 worth of air time had been booked by the office with that station this year.It's possible costs for ads on that station have not yet been paid; the sheriff's office did not provide any clarification.

Clarke acknowledged using taxpayer funds for the ads in February, but disclosed the details on costs last week in response to an open records request. The sheriff has defended the expenditures as appropriate measures aimed at protecting the public.

"It's called crime prevention," Clarke said at the time.

Clarke didn't respond to a request for comment on Jursik's proposal Friday. In a posting on the sheriff's office Facebook page, Clarke is quoted saying Jursik's proposal "will encourage me to become even more vocal.

"Doesn't Jursik realize that when she tries to stop me from doing something, I'm going to do it even more?"

Jursik said her ban would not hamper free speech rights because it only would affect ads paid for with public funds.

"This doesn't prevent the sheriff from going and using campaign funds" for ads, she said. "His campaign can purchase all the time it wants."

Her plan raised concerns by some supervisors, who wondered if it would bar them from sending out newsletters that included their pictures.

"I think there would be unintended repercussions with such a broad stroke," said Supervisor Deanna Alexander.

Jursik's ban proposal would not extend to print advertisements. It would bar officials from buying "video or air time that features the elected official, whether in video format or with an audio recording of the voice of the elected official."

The county and state ethics codes already bar officials from using their office to gain anything of "substantial value" for their private benefit.

The state law doesn't prohibit elected officials from appearing in state-paid ads, "but we would have a concern if any such ads were to air close to an election," said Reid Magney, spokesman for the state Government Accountability Board.